CAI Zaragoza outlasted Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia 75-87 to reach the Last 32. After CAI won, it turned its attention to the game in Paris and upon learning its outcome was able to celebrate a spot in the next stage. CAI simply finished stronger in a game that was close throughout. It was tied entering the fourth quarter and at 71-71 with more than five minutes to play. But three straight baskets by Pedro Llompart, Chris Goulding and Stevan Jelovac put CAI in control and a Goulding three made it 73-80. Reggio Emilia had no response and the visitors sealed the win from the charity stripe. Llompart starred with 12 points and 13 assists for the winners. Goulding paced the CAI attack with 19 points, while Rasko Katic added 14, Marcus Landry 13 and Jason Robinson scored 11. Drake Diener led Reggio Emilia with 19 points and 6 assists, Amedeo Della Valle scored 15, Andrea Cinciarini 12 and Donnell Taylor 10.

Cinciarini knocked down a three to open the scoring for Reggio Emilia, but a pair of Goulding triples soon had CAI up 5-8. Diener tied things from downtown only to see Katic score twice for the visitors. Ksistof Lavrinovic gave the home side a 14-13 lead. The lead switched hands on the ensuing possessions before a Lavrinovic three gave Reggio Emilia a 22-19 lead after 10 minutes. Federico Mussini put the hosts up 5, but the lead was quickly shortened and Kevin Lisch free throws got CAI ahead 26-27. Della Valle and Joan Sastre traded threes. Landry scored twice to give CAI a 29-34 edge. Taylor kept the hosts close, but Goulding ended the half with a jumper for a 40-45 CAI advantage.

Goulding and Stevan Jelovac helped the visitors go up by 8 early in the second half. Achille Polonara’s three-pointer and Riccardo Cervi’s slam closed the gap and a Taylor three tied the game at 51-51. Dieener struck from behind the arc to make it 54-53. The lead changed hands on the ensuing possessions before a run of free tjhrows by Goulding and Lisch put CAI ahead. Della Valle put in his own miss to even things at 60-60 at the end of the third quarter. Landry scored the first 5 points of the fourth quarter before Della Valle and Jason Robinson swapped threes. Llompart and Diener also scored from downtown to make it 68-71. Diener’s fourth three of the game tied it at 71-71 with more than five minutes to play. Consecutive baskets by Llompart, Goulding and Jelovac put CAI in control and a Goulding three made it 73-80. Cinciarini brought the hosts within 5, but Llompart iced the win from the line.

Head Coaches

MENETTI, MASSIMILIANO

Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia

“We are very sorry, we believed in our chances in the Eurocup until the end of the game. This [competition] has helped us to grow and reaching the [Last 32] would have led us to greater maturity also for the Italian league. It's a shame that we never played with our full team. We started with two very controlled quarters, then in the third we played very well, but in the end the physicality of Zaragoza punished us. We gave everything and I think all our fans saw it. We had a lack of experience, physicality and rhythm and I'm sure that the cup would have helped us to acquire these features quickly."

RUIZ, JOAQUIN

CAI Zaragoza

"I am very happy first of all for the qualification to the second round of the Eurocup and then for how my team played the game, keeping the maximum concentration and determination that brought us to this great result."

Players

DIENER, DRAKE

Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia

"We played hard, with determination, trying to win this game. We made many small mistakes. They are a very strong team; their physical strength in the end was evident and also the fact that they are excellent shooters. This combination of factors punished us. We showed some positive things, good signs for the future, but right now the disappointment is great."

ROBINSON, JASON

CAI Zaragoza

"It was a good game; both teams did their best and played hard. I am happy with my contribution to the success of the team and that this game took us to the second part of the Eurocup."